Orthodontic appliance



Jan. 29, 1924.. v 1;,4s1,sei'

R. W. EATON ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE Filed April 5, 1922 mummymm:

To allwho'm it may concern:

Fatented Jan. 29, 1924.

RALPH w. EATON, or nocnnsrnn, new YORK.

ORTHODONTIC .APPLIANGE.

Application filed April 5,

Be it known that I, RALPH W. EATON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Rochester, in the county of 'Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Orthodontic Appliances, of which the following is a specification. r i

The present invention relates to orthodontic'appliances and more particularly to the type in which a regulating wire is employed for cooperating with theteeth to correct defects. in the arrangement there of, such regulating wire being detachably secured at opposite ends to anchoring devices arranged on the teeth, an object of this invention being to provide interlocking connections between the regulating wire and the anchoringdevices which will permit the ready disconnection of the regulating wire from the anchoring devices and will.

eifectively secure the regulating wire in position against accidental displacement. Another objectcofthe invention is to provide an interlocking connection which will be of a'compact construction and free from parts which would injure the use-r.

To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain parts and combinations of parts, all of which will behereinafter described: the novel features being pointed out. in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a set of teeth with the orthodontic appliance in position thereon; Fig.- 2 is a detail view of the interlocking connection looking from the inner side;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View through themterlocking connection;

Fig. l. is another side view of the inter locking connection; t I Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the regulating wire showing the transverse abutment pieces thereon; and v V Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the interlocking part carried by the anchoring member.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of embodiment of the invention; and

' Fig. 8 is anend view of the parts shown in: Fig. 7.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicatesthe set of upper teeth to .the molars of which anchoring rings or hands 2 are secured. A regulating wire 3 another 1922. Serial No. 549,759.

has interlocking connection with these bands at opposite ends through interlocking devices forming the subject matter of this invention.

Each interlocking connection comprises a lock member 4 having a curved face 5 which is soldered or otherwise secured to the. anchoring band 2. This lock member also has, extending longitudinally thereof at a slight inclination to the curved face 5, a transversely curved seat or groove 6 for receiving the end 7 of the regulating Wire 3.

from .oppositesides thereof, this cross piece havinga fiat face 11 forming the abutment surface and also being cut away at 12 to facilitate its connection with the clock as will be hereinafter pointed out. This abutment piece 10 cooperates with a shoulder 1?). formed by providing the 7 locking member 4 wit-h a curved notch 1a intersecting that end of the lock member oppositethe one'providedwith the opening 9, the shoulder 13 extending transversely of the seat andbeing formed by one side of the notch 14; The notch has'a width substantially equal to the diameter of the cross piece 10 and the flattened portion 12 of the latter is providedin order to facilitate the entrance of the crosspiece in the notch. The inner. end. of the notch is curved at 15 and 16 to conform' to and fit closely that face of the cross piecev opposite to the shoulder so as toprevent longitudinal as well as rotary movement of the regulating wire in either direction. The regulating wire may be bent at 3 adjacent each interlocking connection and being madeof spring material has a tendency to hold the cross piece 10 in the locking notchas well as on the seat6.

In order to connect the regulating wire to the anchoring members, the ends are introduced. through the openings .9 and the abutment pieces 10 are fit-ted in the locking notches so as to engage with theshoulders 13, the resiliency of-the regulating wire tending to hold the parts in this condition.

To remove the regulating wire the portions adjacent the locking devices are deflected toward each other tobring the cross pieces 10 out of the locking notches after which the ends of the portion of the cross :pieces may be removed from the openings 9.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the parts arethe same except that the circular opening 9 has a lateral passageway 8 and the regulating wire has attached to and extending beyond each end 7 an ex tension 7 of reduced cross section. This extension serves, when the anchoring band is secured to a tooth in advance of the rearmost tooth, for engaging'a tooth or teeth distal from such anchoring tooth to move such distal tooth or teeth to the correct position and also prevents a. rotation of the end 7 of regulating wire in the curved seat 6.

From'the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided an improved interlocking connection between a regulating wire of an orthodontic appliance and ans choring devices secured to the teeth. This connection is of compact form andis so constructed as not to be uncomfortable in the mouth of theuser. The lock is narrower than the band to which itis attached and this allows a portion of the band to pass under the gum and also permits the burnishing of the bandat the occlusial. No nuts or threaded end sections' are required to attach the wire parts to the lock; The

construction also permits the use of a small arch or regulating wire, so that the structure will be smaller and thus less liable to irritate the soft tissue and interfere with the occlusial of the, teeth with the opposite jaw. To effect the locking and interlocking between the arch or regulating wire and the locking member, a very small movement of the wire is required. The abutment piece being spaced from the extreme ends of the regulating wire, makes it possible for the wire to extend beyond the lock in order to come in contact with and move teeth distal from the anchoring tooth. Furthermore, these extended ends may be bent in order to retain the arch wire, whereradded retention is necessary. The locking members be so arranged on the anchoring bands that the arch wire may be employed to move the anchor teeth in any direction. While, in this instance. the locking members are soldered to the anchoringmembers through its faces opposed to the seats of the arch wire, it is apparent thateither of the other two faces of each locking member may be soldered to the anchoring members. However, the look, when attached to the bands with the slots toward the median line, will permit the in the lock gives the arch wire a decided mechanical advantage in exerting pressure for expansion and minimizes the possibility of tipping the teeth during treatment.

What 1 claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. Thecombination with a regulating wire and an anchorin member, of an interlocking connection between the anchoring member and the regulating member embodying transverse abutment carried by the regulating in spaced relation to one end of the latter, an abutment carried by the anchoring member, and engaging with said transverse abutment on the regulating wire, and means providing an opening through which the portion of the regulating wire beyond said abutment may be passed, the portion of the regulating wire on the inner side of the abutment being free of the anchoring member-so that wire may be deflected laterally to disengage the two abutments. l

2. The combination with a regulating wire andan anchoring member, of an interlocking connection between the regulating wire and the anchoring member comprising a cross piece carried by the regulating wire in'spaced relation to one end thereof, a looking member secured to the anchoring'member and provided with a seat in which the anchoring wire beyond the cross piece rests and also provided with a shoulder for engaging with the cross piece onthe regulating wire, the portion of th regulating wire on the inner side of the crosspi'ece beingifree from the locking member so that the wire may be deflected laterally to disengage the cross piece from the shoulder on the lock ing member.

3. The combination with a regulating wire and an anchoring member, of an interlocking connection between the anchoring member and the regulating wire comprising a cross piece carried by the regulating wire and a locking member carried by the anchoring member, having a seat on which the regulating wire beyond the cross piece rests and also having means providing an opening' at one end of the seat through which the regulatingwire extends, and also having a shoulder'with which the cross piece engages, the regulating wire on the inner side of the cross piece being free from the locli'i ng member so that said wire may be deflected laterally to disengage :the cross piece from the shoulder on the locking member.

4. The combination with a regulating wire having an extension at one end, and an anchoring member, of an interlocking connection between the regulating wire and the anchoring member comprising a transverse abutment on the regulating wire arranged in spaced relation to the extension and a locking member having a shoulder with which said transverse abutment engages, the extension of the regulating \vire extending beyond said locking member so as to provide "for engaging a tooth distal from the tooth to which the anchoring member is secured.

5. The combination with a regulating wire having a reduced extension on one side at one end, and an anchoring member, of an interlocking connection betwe n the regulating Wire and the anchoring member oomprising a transverse abutment on the regulating Wire arranged in spaced relation to the reduced extension, and a locking mem her having a shoulder with WlllCll the transverse abutment engages, said locking member also having a portion with an openingthrough which the portion of the regulating Wire beyond the shoulder passes, said portion of the locking member being provided with a lateral passageway in which the reduced extension of the regulating Wire lies.

RALPH W. EATON, t 

